A Father to the Fatherless | Jim Hammond
Recap
Pastor Jim celebrated fathers with his message entitled, “A Father to the Fatherless.” He hit us with some hard-hitting facts about fathers. Did you know children who feel close to their fathers are twice as likely to continue their education after high school and find stable employment as opposed to those who do not feel close to their fathers. Furthermore, they are 75% less likely to have a child in their teens… 80% less likely to spend time in jail… 50% less likely to experience multiple depression issues! He went on to expound on the importance fathers have in their ability to influence their children, molding them into healthy and productive human beings.
Dive Deeper
Isaiah 64:8, “But now, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand.” This verse tells us that, yes, we are the work of our Father in heaven. We are His creation. But there is a natural truth to this verse as well. Children, in the same way, are shaped by their earthly fathers.
Example: Pastor Jim used the example of a father and son relationship in which the father was a hard man, a disciplinarian, “my way or the highway” sort of man. He was heavy-handed with discipline, the sort of discipline that would be considered physical abuse by today’s standards. This father thought being a good father was being the provider for the family, taking care of the discipline, making sure they are clothed and fed. But there was absolutely no encouragement or physical affection. This was all he knew to do. That’s how he was fathered.
Encouraging your children should begin at the earliest opportunity. Speaking words of encouragement will go a long way into molding them into confident boys and girls who turn into confident men and women.
On the contrary, Pastor Jim recalls the debilitating effect on a teenager when he was disciplined in front of his peers. He was given corporal punishment where everyone could hear it. Public humiliation will, at minimum, cause your child to hate you. Humiliation invites a rebellious and angry spirit in a child. This kind of discipline molded his child, but not in a good way.
Another scientific study found that clear boundaries and expectations from a father lead to better emotional, academic, social, behavioral outcomes for children.
What is a clear boundary? It’s not “Do this because I said so.” That is not a clear boundary.
There is a biblical correlation with the Father in heaven and the earthly father to their children. Every human father is the son of the Father in heaven, who is supposed to be our constant source of strength, wisdom, and hope.
Matthew 7:11 says, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”
This verse is making the comparison between the Father in heaven with earthly fathers, where they want to give gifts to their children. God is comparing our parenthood to His parenthood, our fatherhood to his Fatherhood.
Isaiah 64:8 says we are the clay and the Father is the potter. Our Father God molds us into His image. We are the work of His hand. However, the same is true with earthly fathers. They too can mold their children, good or bad.
Another scientific fact is that a father being present in the home is related to positive health outcomes in infants improve weight gain, improve breastfeeding rates.
The most important component of the human family is fatherhood. The saying is, “So goes the father, so goes the family, so goes the nation.”
The highest honor inferred on a male is the title of “father” because God has the same title of “Abba,” which is Father.
Romans 8:15, “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
Read About It
Isaiah 64:8, “But now, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand.”
Matthew 7:11, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”
Romans 8:15, “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
Discussion Questions
Can you list the ways your earthly father has influenced your life, good or bad?
Many people have had the unfortunate experience of having a bad or abusive father. Are you one of them? If so,
how did your relationship with God the Father change your idea of fatherhood?
Are you a father? If yes, do you see things you need to change in the way you father your children?